Oh hey managed to squeeze this out! I have the next segment started but not finished yet, so you just get a teaser.
PS I see what you did there, iTunes.
The thing Sahir had called up was not human. If it had been once, it was so far removed from humanity that I couldn't begin to connect it. It was tall, over seven feet easy, with shiny grey skin, an oversized head, four arms, and a tail. But what really terrified me was Sahir's response. He was shaking and I didn't think it was from fear. I think it was from exertion. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and he struggled- and then I realized why. The thing was snarling the tendrils it had for hair whipping back and forth, near to our protective circle, but not crossing it. It couldn't, because Sahir was using every ounce of his will power to keep it at bay.
Unsure of what else to do, I tightened my fist around the coin and laid that hand on Sahir's shoulder. Then I guess I sort of hoped, prayed, willed Sahir to be strong enough to send that thing back. There was sudden gasp from him and I could feel power pouring out of him, crashing into the creature like waves in the fury of a storm. It shrieked, a horrible noise that could have woken the dead, and considering what we were, I was afraid it actually could do that. But nothing surfaced and the creatures two a step back, then another, screaming in agony until it finally disappeared the same way it appeared.
Sahir immediately slumped to the ground, no longer shaking. In fact, he wasn't even moving.
PS I see what you did there, iTunes.
